The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Notes on the Lesson for July g.
THE Infant Jesus"

The lesson Ia found in the first twelve verses
of the second chapter of Matthew. The time
was about ID. q. A. His birth was so much
earlier than the date first fixed Place-Beth-
lehem See under Special Mention.
SPECIAL MENTION
u) The gospel OF Matthew. It's author.
This was Matthew, the publican, as all agree.
For account OF his call TO be disciple
Matt tx, .; Mark IL, Ia; Luke ", "a, %. He
Is Enthusiastically modest in his pers onal
references. Seventeen independent wit
nesses OF the first four centuries attest its
commences (Schan.)
c. It's purpose. Matthew wrote for the
jews IN Palestine. Therefore he deals 30
much with Old Testament prophecy, proving
Its fultillment in Christ He traces the plan
OF God In redemption, as found in the his
tory OF the jews, showing Jesus to CORE
| spond, in life and character and claim, to the
Messiah OF the Old Testament
C3) Date Of its composition. This is not
known certainly, but IL was probably near the
middle Of the first century 1t is generally
admitted to be the first written of the four
gospels, though coming later than the Acts
~ It's key-lcord According to w. f.
Crafts, the key-word of this gospel is "ful-
filled, in harmony with ch. l., p. 1t has also
been called "the gospel of the kingdom.
The key-word of Matthew's gospel is Mes
siah;' and may be briefly Analysed as follows:
% The Messlah's advent ID; cO the Mes
siahs kingly power (5-l6); C) the Messahs
| public claim Q7-23); az the Messi abs sacrl-
nee C24-2O; and (5) the Messiah's triumph
| c9S)."
(5J Its logical order Matthew is more svs-
tematic than the other evangelists, arranging
things of the same kind in one place; as ser
mons IN chs. ", vi, vii, parallels in CHI xiii
miracles III chs viiL tx.
(6) us original language. This may have
been Hebrew, as many believe. But if so, the
original manuscript was lost 1t is known to
have been written IN Greek, which may have
been translation from the Hebrew. Some
think he wrote it in both the Greek and He
| brew languages
t) It's symbol Matthew's emblem is the
lion. In his gospel Christ is presented as the
lion of the tribe OF Judah; the root OF David;
the shiloh; the king of the Jews; the son OF
David; the son OF Abraham Matt l: y.
~ Its outline and divisions. According
TO, Smiths Bible Dictionary these are as
| follows: /. The introduction to the minis
try (chs. Ia. 2 The new law for the
church (chs. 80 3. Events in historical
order showing Christ as the worker Of mir
acies (chs viii, ix.). T. The appointment OF
apostles to preach the kingdom (ch. x). ..
The doubts and opposition excited by his &C
tivlty in divers minds-n Johns disciples in
sundry cities, in the Pharsees (chs XII, xiii
T. series of parallels on the nature of the
kingdom (ch xiii z. The effects of his
ministry on his countrymen, on HerOd the
people OF Gennesaret, scribes and Pharisees,
and on multitudes whom he feeds (chs. kill,
50; xvi, ~. S Revelation to his disciples of
his sufferings (chs. xvi, IS; xviii, 30. o
Events OF journey to Jerusalem (chs. xix,
XXI 10. Entrance into Jerusalem, resistance
10 him there, and denunciation Of the Phari-
sees (ch-. xxi-xxii J. IL Last discourses
tchs xiv, xxv.l II. Passion and resurrec-
ton (chs. xxvi.-xxvil).
Why four gospels. There were four gos-
pels because Jesus was to be commended to
four races or classes, or men, or to four
phases of human thought-the jewish, Ro-
man, Greek, and Christian Had not these
exhausted the classes to be reached, there
would doubtless have been more gospels In
all ages the Jewish, Roman, and Greek ma
lures reappear among men, and in fact make
up the world Of natural men, while the
Christian nature and wants likewise remain
essentially the same. CONDENSED from Gre
gorys why Four Gospels"
General hints To the aHdy Of Matthew. /.
Read the whole book at one sitting, and get
comprehensive view of IT. 1t can be done IN
lass than two hours > Read 1t again, care
fully noting tho references TO the Old
Testament There are nearly one hundred
of them, mentioned or implied. .. Get we'll
acquainted with Matthew himself. This
book we call the Gospel of Matthew is a real
book written 10y real man, and the more you
know OF tho man the better you Will enjoy
and understand the book. Take your con-
cordance and look up every verse where
Matthew is mentioned; study them till each
verse tells you some incident in his life or
trait in his character. Find out what the
Bible dictionary says about him, and don't be
satisfied till Won have present TO your thought
an idsa o. Matthews personality which shall
always lie back of his words, giving them
reality and force as you read them.
BsthleheD. Bethlehem, the birthplace OF
Christ, was small town about SIX miles
south OF Jerusalem. The word "Bethc-
hem" denotes house of bread perhaps
given to the place on account OF it's great
fertility. IL was also called Ephrata, Il word
supposed likewise to signify fertility Gen
30: 10; Ruth 4: II; Ps. l32: 6). 1t was called
the city of David Q4uke .: ~, because 1t was
the city of his nativity q Sam. Is: !, 49, 1t
was called Bethlehem of Judea, 10 distin-
gulsh 1t from town of the same name III
Galilee Josh 10: 15) The soil of Bethle-
hem was noted for its fertility. Ancient
travellers frequently spoke of its productions
The town is situated on an eminence in tho
midst OF hills and yalos. At present il con.
taius about two hundred houses, inhabited
chiefly by Christians and Mohammedans, VINO
1--we together in peace. About two hundred
PAGES east of bethlehem the place is still
shown where our Savior is supposed to have
been born. There Is church and a convent
there; and beneath the church subterranean
chapel, which is lighted by thirty-two lamps
which Is said to DO the place where was the
stable in which Jesus was born. Cook :
Comp. Quarterly
state Of tie rcorld at tie birth Of Christ
Rome, the acknowledged mistress of the
world, under the potent scepter of Augustus ;
Greece subject to Rome, yet the center Of
culture aud art; Herod the Great is king OF
Judea; Great Britain has been under Roman
rule for fifty years; both Greek letters and
Roman arms have been preparing for this
greatest event in the worlds history.
sEED-TRUTHs AND GERM-THoUGHTs
l. Jerusalem is the center and source of all
highest wisdom ". ~.
> The Bible is our star to guide and en-
Tighten ". p.
B The power of the right-though it be but
u babe ". 3.
T. How many shave seen" proofs that the
gospel is worthy, and yet delay to come
w. y.
s. Ii you would learn about Christianity and
the gospel, apply to Christians ". ~.
q We should not only accept the record OF
the Bible, but the Savior of the Bible ". y.
z. Fulhllment of prophecy an unanswerable
argument for Christianity ". ".
3 Gods plan includes all men and places
and things ". o..
O. Interest in right things may be from
wrong motives and for base purposes ". ..
10 Even the wicked may be overruled TO
point the way to Christ ". y.
IL. If man will but follow, God will lead
him fully TO the Savior w. o.
II Christ il Joy to some ". l0) and q
terror to others ". -.
Subject OF lesson for July 10, "The Flight